Hand Luggage Only to WDW?

[Dimplenose]

I have done European short trips with just cabin baggage - oh what a lovely smug feeling to walk past the luggage collection points on landing.

I noticed in Mike Jones' old trip reports that he has done this to WDW. So this has set me thinking ....

can I do this for a 7 day trip in October? Will it save me much/any time when I transfer flights in MIA?

Our bags are expandable so we will probably need to check them in on the way home - will we have to collect them at MIA or will the airlines sort this out as I have booked on one ticket?

I know I am restricted by AA's limits as these are smaller than BA who we have the transatlantic flight with.

Any hints or tips welcomed.

 

[mackay_j]

I managed 10 nights in France including our bedding -We flew back from mco to man then my youngest dd and I then went on to our static caravan for 10 nights leaving our cases with my dh and elder DD to lug back to scotland. Best advice is to have a coat with many pockets - I had kindle/phone/ fist aid kit medication /phone & kindle charges/ co dector/ wallet with all travel doc and money- all in the pockets on my jacket - My dd and I also had many layers on and a fold up bag in a pocket - We striped off the minute we got on the plane and filled 2 large bags.- But as the weather is better in the US you probably wouldn't need the layer trick. Nor will you need bedding - So by my standards you should even manage in only 1 case between you

 

[chocolateMinnie]

to be honest on the basis of MCO it takes you far longer to get through immigration than it does to wait for your luggage - we only had to wait for our luggage once the other trips we could see it doing a carousel twirl way before we got through immigration.

 

[penlanspice]

We could probably easily do this for a week hol, no chance on the way home though

It's really not worth the struggle to try and fit everything in to be honest, usually the bags are going around on the carousel before you've cleared customs, our experiences at Miami airport have been some of the longest wait times we've ever had at any US airport.

 

[MrRomance]

I have done European short trips with just cabin baggage - oh what a lovely smug feeling to walk past the luggage collection points on landing.

I noticed in Mike Jones' old trip reports that he has done this to WDW. So this has set me thinking ....

can I do this for a 7 day trip in October? Will it save me much/any time when I transfer flights in MIA?

Our bags are expandable so we will probably need to check them in on the way home - will we have to collect them at MIA or will the airlines sort this out as I have booked on one ticket?

I know I am restricted by AA's limits as these are smaller than BA who we have the transatlantic flight with.

Any hints or tips welcomed.

We decided that this year we are going on our 2 week trip with hand luggage only. Go to You Tube and search for Organized Jen Packing Challenge. That's where I got my tips from! With BA you can take up to 23kg hand luggage. Packing cubes!!!

 

[Woodview]

so 23kg in one Hand luggage bag to be Lifted into

overhead bin. ..... a good lift .... just let the person in next seat what you are about to do. .........????

 

[irenep]

I think it would be easy to do hand luggage for a 7 day trip. I am pretty sure that if you are flying TAtl with BA that you get their luggage allowance on AA too (as it's one ticket) and BA let you have a hand bag as well as a cabin case.

Coming back- once you check your bags in at MCO you wont see them again until you land back in the UK so no, you won't need to do anything at MIA.

For us - if it was just me and my younger son we could do it no problem - and both ways too as i hate shopping for clothes over there. However, if DD came too - no way! She changes outfits at least 3 times a day

 

[chmurf]

we did taht once, carry-ons only.

but we were going for 3 weeks, and had intended on going shopping a lot ...

you might get away with it on the way out. But on the way in ... if you want to bring anything home ... you'll probably do as we did : buy suitcases ...

Also remember that carry-ons only will limit your ability to take some items (shower gel, toothpaste, and so on) and you'll need to go shopping once you get to Orlando

Does it save time at the airport for a connection ? ... unless you all have a US passport and go through the rather faster US Citizen lane, you won't save any time. Your luggage will already be waiting for you on the baggage claim floor before you even get out of the immigration hall. So you *might* save a couple of seconds, a couple of minutes at best.
whatever time you save there will be lost tenfold when you'll have to go buy what you couldn't take with you

 

[scoobydooby]

No way could I do it. We struggle with four massive cases and four big carry ons. I'm looking forward to having the washer/dryer at OKW next year so we only have to take a weeks worth of clothes. Will still need four cases though. Shopping!!!!! DS came back with four pairs of trainers last year. Never realise how big size 10 trainers are until you have to pack a pile of them lol!

 

[MrRomance]

No way could I do it. We struggle with four massive cases and four big carry ons. I'm looking forward to having the washer/dryer at OKW next year so we only have to take a weeks worth of clothes. Will still need four cases though. Shopping!!!!! DS came back with four pairs of trainers last year. Never realise how big size 10 trainers are until you have to pack a pile of them lol!

That's why we're going hand luggage only this time. At SSR you get free washer and dryer and we always do wash when we're down at the quiet pool anyway. I'm not bothered about coming back with a case, it's just going out. We use the US citizen line and always end up being first through to baggage and last through customs and then have to wait again at the other terminal.

 

[Dimplenose]

Thanks chmurf for your detailed reply - it has given me some points to think about. I've also played with my carry-on case this weekend and am sure I could manage for a week with what it holds. However I am still unsure if I want to have the bother of a carry-on with me at the airport or even if it will give me any advantages if I do.

Here are my thoughts at the points that you raised.

we did taht once, carry-ons only.

but we were going for 3 weeks, and had intended on going shopping a lot ...

we are only going for 7 days but even when we went for 14 we only had 3 checked in cases between 4 of us

you might get away with it on the way out. But on the way in ... if you want to bring anything home ... you'll probably do as we did : buy suitcases ...

our carry-ons expand and we would check them in on the way home

Also remember that carry-ons only will limit your ability to take some items (shower gel, toothpaste, and so on) and you'll need to go shopping once you get to Orlando

100ml toothpaste is a standard size tube, I always use the hotel shower gel and shampoo but might have to get extra suncream

Does it save time at the airport for a connection ? ... unless you all have a US passport and go through the rather faster US Citizen lane, you won't save any time. Your luggage will already be waiting for you on the baggage claim floor before you even get out of the immigration hall. So you *might* save a couple of seconds, a couple of minutes at best.

this is the main reason I'm considering it. I have read many horror stories of being held up in baggage reclaim but hadn't thought to look if they were US citizens or not

whatever time you save there will be lost tenfold when you'll have to go buy what you couldn't take with you
I think it would only be suncream and I'm prepared to pay Disney prices for one item - and apart from a few souvenirs we don't do shopping on holiday

Thanks to everyone that has replied. I now believe I could do this but still not sure if I want to.

 

[maclondon]

I struggle to see the benefit - I mean you get a free luggage in the hold - so you aren't saving any money.

Then you have to cart your at the limit hand luggage around the airport - and fight for space in the overheads. and what benefit?

a few mins saved at check in in the UK - ok thats good - but bag drop is pretty quick these days.

next to no benefit in the US as you will be longer in immigration than seems humanly possible

I've been on flights with people carrying on so much crap and why - but i like to travel light just a 'man bag' some water (post security) gadgets and thats it.
less is more while travelling - ditch the bags.

I totally get that people want to just pack light - and thats the best way.but check it in - some of the on the edge case ones make life hellish on the plane as people bump and scrape their way down the aisle to the back of the plane only to find out theres no space and it has to go in the hold anyway.

When i go to ireland i pack light as extra luggage costs a lot - and as theres 5 of use we each have hand luggage (2 adults 2 kids)- even then we just use regular rucksacks that fit under the seat in front - no issue on a 1 hour flight. imagine if thats what you'll even up having to do on the transatlantic one because everyone has brought on massive bags?

 

[DisFanJen]

We've done this several times when flying into MCO and for us it did save a good a mount of time. This was with a 6Kg limit on VA. It does mean doing laundry more often but as we usually get a 1 bed DVC villa that's never an issue for us, and even if we went for a studio we like to have evening swims and the laundry room is usually by one of the pools.

Now that the limit has been increased to 10Kg and they have the automated immigration system at MCO we're definitely going to go carry-on only again on our trip in November.

What we have found before now is going carry-on only saves us between 30 and 45 minutes from plane to car. Now this may not seem like much but for us it's definitely worth it.

I hear that if you are a party of 2 and have been to the USA recently they are bringing you to the front to use the machine so you skip a good bit of the queue, so with any luck we'll save even more time!

 

[scoobydooby]

I hear that if you are a party of 2 and have been to the USA recently they are bringing you to the front to use the machine so you skip a good bit of the queue, so with any luck we'll save even more time!

This happened to me and my daughter in May. We bypassed over 100 people in front of us

 

[DisFanJen]

This happened to me and my daughter in May. We bypassed over 100 people in front of us

Awesome!

Nice to hear another person confirm this. We tend to try and sit right at the back of the plane in the section with only 2 seats so we're usually off fairly late so the queue jump will really help.

And now back to your originally scheduled question...

 

[chmurf]

this is the main reason I'm considering it. I have read many horror stories of being held up in baggage reclaim but hadn't thought to look if they were US citizens or not

we can't fly direct, no direct route for us from paris, in my experience, we never once had to wait for our luggage at the baggage claim when we checked suitcases.
Airport staff will unload the baggage claim belt as soon as luggage come out, and they line up the suitcases on the floor by the side of the conveyor.

I hear that if you are a party of 2 and have been to the USA recently they are bringing you to the front to use the machine so you skip a good bit of the queue, so with any luck we'll save even more time!

needs confirmation, but I seem to have read somewhere (on here) that "recently" meant 2 years tops.
Basically I think it means that you need to have entered the US under the same ESTA (so 2 years tops)

 

[scoobydooby]

. needs confirmation, but I seem to have read somewhere (on here) that "recently" meant 2 years tops. Basically I think it means that you need to have entered the US under the same ESTA (so 2 years tops)

The specific question been asked when we were at Orlando International in May this year was had you entered the USA within the last year. They definitely didn't say last two years. Only one experience of course.

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

I hear that if you are a party of 2 and have been to the USA recently they are bringing you to the front to use the machine so you skip a good bit of the queue, so with any luck we'll save even more time!

My friend and I did this - she was through within minutes. I, on the other hand, forgot to take off my glasses headache so it didn't recognise me and had to go through the regular manned desks still. Though I must admit, I was put through quicker for having used the machines.

Oh, and I should add that they considered it 'recent' if it was within the last 5 years. Not sure if that's still the case though...

 

[disneyholic family]

i managed a carry on only trip to WDW when i went on my own. But i was only there for 6 days.
however, it would probably suffice for a much longer trip. i would wear the same clothes, just have to wash them.

 

[Dimplenose]

I struggle to see the benefit - I mean you get a free luggage in the hold - so you aren't saving any money.

Then you have to cart your at the limit hand luggage around the airport - and fight for space in the overheads. and what benefit?

to ensure we don't lose our luggage on such a short trip and for possibly quicker transit to our connection plus not having to wait for luggage when we arrive at MCO as internal passengers


some of the on the edge case ones make life hellish on the plane as people bump and scrape their way down the aisle to the back of the plane

that's a very good point - we have a bit of a walk to our seats (hard enough at my size without a bag)

Thanks, I think you have made up my mind not to try.